Dr. Walter Hill

Dr. Hill is dean of Agricultural, Environmental and Natural Sciences at Tuskegee University since 1996, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, his M.S. from the University of Arizona, M.A.T. from the University of Chicago, and his B.A. from Lake Forest College, Chicago.

At Tuskegee University he provides leadership in the development of research, teaching and outreach programs in agriculture, food, the environment, rural development and forestry. His work uses the sweet potato as a model crop to study food production and utilization in controlled ecological life support systems (for space missions) and in sustainable agricultural systems. He works to achieve innovative partnerships that enhance education and development opportunities for underrepresented minorities and developing countries.

Before becoming dean he served in various administrative, teaching and research positions at Tuskegee University where he has been a member of the faculty since 1978. Among his honors and awards are Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Gamma Sigma Delta, Father of the Year Award (Washington Chapel A.M.E. Church), G.W. Carver Recognition Team, Distinguished Scientific Research, Leadership and Administration Award (American Society for Horticultural Science Southern Region), African American Achiever in Agriculture (Chicago Museum of Science and Industry), Alumni Merit Award (University of Illinois College of Agriculture).

Also, fellow, American Society of Agronomy, Outstanding Research and Teaching Award (Alabama Soil & Water Conservation Society), the Russell W. Brown Distinguished Scientist Research Award (Tuskegee University), Executive of the Year (Professional Secretaries International), Outstanding Minority Educator Award (American Society of Agronomy), Futurist in Science and Technology (Black Enterprise Magazine), Faculty Award for Excellence in Science and Technology (The White House Initiative on HBCUs), Kellogg Fellow (National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy), United Negro College Fund Distinguished Scholar Award (UNCF/MacArthur Foundation).

He has been advisor for 17 award winning student projects; member, the American Registry of Certified Professional Agronomic, Crop and Soil Scientists, CPSS; board of trustees, Lake Forest College, Illinois; board of directors, International Food and Agricultural Development, USAID; board of directors, Agronomic Science Foundation.

He established Tuskegee Horizons, Magazine/Journal of Food, Agriculture, Environment and People. He serves on the executive committee, board on agriculture, National Association of State and Land Grant Universities; was featured in the New Explorers television series, aired nationally on public TV. For the National Research Council, he is a member of the Committee on Sustainable Agriculture & the Environment in the Humid Tropics, and many panels and advisory boards in the field of agronomic science.

Dr. Hill is a member of the American Society of Agronomy, American Society of Gravitational and Space Biology, American Society of Horticultural Science, Crop Science Society of America, International Soil Science Society, international Society for Tropical Root Crops, International society for Horticultural Science and Soil Science Society of America.